Sunday is Veterans Day and our offices will be closed Monday to honor this holiday.

Every year at this time we take a moment to pause, thank our veterans, and remember those who have served.

Many employees at the Oregon Health Authority have first-hand experience with the aftermath of war because of their own service or service by a family member or loved one. But for those who are not personally affected, the economic, physical and mental challenges faced by our veterans – whether from Iraq and Afghanistan or from earlier conflicts – can feel distant.

One way to connect with these veterans and their families is to attend any of the many Veterans Day events being held around the state. I encourage you to give some thoughts to our veterans this holiday weekend, say "thank you" to any veteran you know, or even volunteer at a non-profit that serves them, such as this one that The Oregonian wrote about earlier this year.

As always, thank you for all you do. Have a safe and mindful holiday weekend.